Harness
Tabcorp Park Menangle Preview & Best Bets – Saturday, December 20
Last-start Blacks a Fake winner Don Hugo faces a new challenger in former Kiwi Rakero Rocket when he returns to Menangle for Saturday night’s Ultra Air Cup.
The program also sees a highly competitive final of the Steven Turnbull Christmas Gift.Race-by-race preview of Menangle, Saturday December 20
Race 1: WETHERILL PARK INDUSTRIAL PACE
HUTA (10) will enjoy a class drop after tackling some strong opponents last time and was flying prior, winning four of his previous five outings at this circuit. The wide draw is a new challenge but he is good enough to overcome it back in his right grade. FORCE FULL (2) was good from a wider barrier last week, beaten less than 2m into third. Suited up to a distance where he has won two of three attempts and he draws to advantage. VAN BASTEN (6) draws wider but was good last week when edged out narrowly. CAULONIA COURAGE (5) has been solid at his last couple and came from this barrier when he won here last month. ALTA WILLIAM (3) has been good in Brisbane of late and was runner-up the last time he raced here. Draws to be competitive.
Race 2: KARI J C CAFFYN PLATE (PENALTY EXEMPT EVENT)
Promising gelding IMA BOXA (2) stretched his unbeaten record to three when he drew on the back row but worked to the front before cruising home by 17m at Young last start. Has switched to the Jason Grimson yard since and has the speed to take advantage of the low draw so can maintain the perfect record. CATCHAFIRE (6) had little go to plan from a wide barrier last time but his prior form here was good, winning over this distance and finishing 2.2m away from this barrier two back. He is up to winning this. ITZMINEONTHELINE (9) draws deeper but was solid when midfield in a higher-graded race last time and recorded back-to-back seconds in this class here prior, one of them from a similar barrier to this. HUGO MAGUIRE (7) showed improvement to come from the outside barrier and place here last week. He should be close to his peak now. IDEAL MARQUESS (11) draws deep but was readied with two trials and strikes at 50 per cent when fresh so keep safe.
Race 3: KIDMAN WAY CITRUS PACE
BOLD MEDLEY JUJON (2) has yet to miss a place in three starts here since joining Kevin Pizzuto including a strong win from a wide barrier two back. Brave last week when he led and stuck on for a 1.2m third. Draws to push forward again and could be hard to get past. CLASSIC ELEGANCE (3) made a winning return off a let-up when she led from wider and scored by 5.4m two back before she started favourite last week but raced wide and finished third. Draws to enjoy a better run so could bounce back to winning form. WAMBOYNEINAMERICA (1) drew very wide on his return to Sydney last week so was far from disgraced when beaten 4.3m. Mush better served by the ace draw. MICHAYWEY (5) led from this draw and faded last week but recorded a win and a placing in his previous two attempts at this circuit and distance so deserves another chance. HEZ DUSTY (8) worked from a similar draw last week and stuck onto go under by only 1.7m. Won two in a row prior so respect.
Race 4: KINGSTEAD LODGE LADYSHIP PACE
Kiwi mare TOKYO ROSE (9) makes her Australian debut and while she cops a wide draw she has the powerhouse combination of Jason Grimson and Cameron Hart behind her. Hasn't raced for a month but expect she will be wound up and ready to go. ISLA ROCHELLE (5) drew wider and worked when racing parked but stuck on okay for a midfield finish last week. Won two in a row at this circuit and distance prior so with the aid of a lower draw could return to winning form. IDEAL IN DREAMS (8) made a successful return to the city last time, winning a higher-graded race over this distance by 1.8m. Draws wider but could go on with it. WHILEMENA RITA (10) may need some luck from the outside barrier but is going well including a win here two back. GOODTIME LIBBY (6) draws wider than when placed last start but had enough gate speed to lead from deeper than this for a win at this circuit and distance prior.
Race 5: AIRCLEAN FILTERS STEVE TURNBULL XMAS GIFT FINAL
CASH AND BLING (3) did a good job to return to winning form in the heats, drawing clear late to score by close to 8m. Should be prominent again from the good draw so could back that up. Hard to knock the form of DUKES CHOICE (1) who has put two wins together at this circuit. Draws for a soft run so could land the hat trick. MIKI COHEN (8) went under by just a nose in his heat last week. Draws wider but his records at both the circuit and the distance read well and he is good enough to win with his A-game. SCARED STIFF (6) won from this draw two back at Wagga and didn't miss by much when runner-up last week. SET UP (2) looks close to a win and should get his chance from this draw.
DON HUGO (10) took advantage of a trail behind the leader and the sprint lane to down Leap To Fame for a Group 1 win in last week's Blacks A Fake in Brisbane. Has a strong strike rate at this circuit and distance including a win in this year's Miracle Mile. All class and will be hard to stop. RAKERO ROCKET (9) is a fascinating newcomer to the Jason Grimson yard from across the Tasman. Hasn't raced since last month's NZ Cup but showed his ability with a win in the G3 Methven Cup earlier in the campaign and he is proven at this distance. Looks a threat. UBETCHA TIGERPIE (11) cops a wide draw but did well to get within 2m of the flying Captains Knock at Listed level at this circuit and distance last week. HELLUVA (3) is a first four hope from a good draw.
Race 7: TRILOGY HOMES 3YO PACE
GO WITHOUT (5) is a progressive colt who kicked off his campaign with back-to-back seconds before delivering at Wagga last time, leading to score by 3.6m. Kept fresh since and draws a little wider but is proven at this circuit and distance and can work through his grades now. SMIRKIN SERENE (1) also comes through the Breeders Crown where she missed narrowly in her heat before coming from the back row for fifth in the final. Has won three of five attempts at this circuit and distance and draws to advantage. PEACE OUT (4) returns from the Breeders Crown series at Melton where she beat a couple of top fillies to win her heat before finishing down the track in last week's final. She is suited back to a distance where she owns a good record. WITHDISTINCTION (7) has been racing well in Queensland and has won here before.
Race 8: OZ CUT WHOLESALE MEATS PACE
OOGA CHAKA (5) has been solid in his two outings at this circuit and distance since a spell, placing fresh then racing parked from this barrier but sticking on for fourth last week. Should be approaching peak fitness and could be ready to deliver. MAURLEN BOY (7) draws wider but there has been plenty of merit in his last couple of efforts here, beaten less than 5m over this distance last week and clocking in second prior. Could break through. BAXTER RED (1) has had very wide barriers in his last two attempts here and was good when beaten 3m into third in this grade two back. Looks well served by the ace draw. OZZIE PUNTA (4) came from this row to be beaten only 4.5m last week and had looked close to a win when runner-up in his previous two outings here. ROYAL DIVISION (9) draws wide again but was beaten only 5m from a similar barrier last week when held up late.
BEST BETS:
Race 7 #5 Go Without – Tackles two nice fillies but is progressive and offers some value.
Race 8 #5 Ooga Chaka – Fitter for two solid efforts off a spell and could be ready to peak.
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